Display rack

ABSTRACT

A display rack formed of components or parts which may be readily set up, attached and interlocked to each other without the use of tools or nuts, bolts or other extraneous fastening elements. The parts of the display rack interlock by the proper positioning of the parts in their proper relationship. The parts include tie members or bracing bars interlocked with upright members. A panel cap or top cover member interlocks with the upright members and a base which includes a kick plate interlocks with side members which also interlock with the upright members.

United States Patent Howard J. Marschak Evanston, I11. (865 W. North Ave., i a o!!! 99332 May 2, 1968 Jan. 19, 1971 Inventor Appl. No. Filed Patented DISPLAY RACK 13 Claims, 15 Drawing Figs.

U.S.Cl 108/1, 108/111 Int. Cl A471'3/06 Field ofSearch l08/1--l0, 28, 32,152,144,l50,111;248/242;211/147,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,064,899 12/1936 Finer et al 108]] 2,891,680 6/1959 Mac Aleese 108/152 5/ 1 960 Streater 108/28 2,971,657 2/1961 Zadek 108/144 2,975,909 3/1961 Foster 108/5 3,044,631 7/1962 Greenman et al. 108/1 3,082,880 3/1963 Marson 108/32X 3,089,675 5/1963 Lozier 248/242 Primary Examiner-Bobby R. Gay Assistant Examiner-Glenn O. Finch Attorney-Max R. Kraus ABSTRACT: A display rack formed of components or parts PATENIEU JAM 9:91:

SHEET 1 OF 3 H613 INVENTOR HOWARD J. MARSCHAK ATTORNEY PATENTEUJAMQ 19n- SHEET 2 OF 3 FIGGA I I I I I I) 1''! III! I] 'IIIIIIIII.

INVENTOR HOWARD J. MARSCHAK ATTORNEY PATENTEU JAN 1 sasm 3; 5 5 6; O 2 3 sum 3 [IF 3 \NVENTOR F16. l4 HOWARD J. MARSCHAK 1 DISPLAYIRACIC' BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The object of this invention is to provide a display rack formed of interflttingparts or components which interlock with each other by the-proper positioning of the parts relative to each otherwithout' requiring the useof any tools, bolts, nuts or extraneousfastening elements. In othe'r words, the parts or components forming the display rack have their own inter- BRIEF DESCRIPTION OFTHE DRAWINGS In the drawingsi p FIG. I is a perspective view of the display rack in assembled relationship; j t FIG. 2 is a view in reduced scale of the display rack with the components or-parts indisassembled relation;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of one of the upright members; 1

FIG. .4 is a cross-sectional iew of the upright member shown in, FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentaryperspective view of the panel cap which fitsacross the top of the rack and its catch means;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of aportion of the panelcap showing it prior to being latched to the upright;

FIG. 6A is a view'sirnilar to FIG. 6 but showing same in latched position;

FIG. Us a fragmentary perspective view ofthe kick plate;

FIG.8 is afragmentary. view of a portion of the shelf, showing particularly the front of the shelf;

FIG.9. is a plan view of the. brace or ;tie. member which is connected at. its opposite ends tothe spaced upright members;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentaryplan view showing the manner of connectingthebrace ortie bar to one of the upright members;

FIG. 1 1 is an elevational view showingone side of the shelf;

FIG. 12 is a rear perspectiveview of the pegboard support whichis positioned adjacent thelowerendof the uprights and between the upright members for receiving and supporting the lower. end ofthe pegboard;

LII

panel cap designated generally by the numeral 24 and best shown'in detail in FIGS. 2, Sand ,6, is detachabley secured to the upright members to cover the top of the peg board and cap the top of the upright members 16. The peg board 18 is supwhich is secured to the bottom side members 30. The top member or shelf 28 is ada ted to rest on the side members 30 as well as'the kick plate 32.

The display rack is so constructed that it may be readily as- I sembled and interlocked without the use of any tools, bolts,

FIG. .l3 is a;partial.perspective view of thejends of the kick plateand side member; and

FIG.;14 is, amodifr'cationshowing a modified shelf. bracket arm.

DESCRIPTION OF'THEPREFERREDEMBQDIMENT SHOWNINI-IIGURESJI TO 13, INCLUSIVE bestshown in FlGS. 3 :and-4. Aconventional-peg board 18 is adaptedto besupportedbetween the spaceduprightmembers I6, with the ,pegboardforming therear wall of; the display rack.

'The rack includesartransversely positionedbracing bar or tie member. generally, designated by, the: numeral 20,- which is secured atits oppositeends to the upright; members approxim ately midway otzthe-heightofithe uprights. Sameis shown in detaiLin FIG-9, with,thermanner,of=attachment=to the upright members-best, shown in FIG. '10.. A, plurality of shelves are spacedlysecured-to thefr ont oftheupright-members16; said shelves vare generally designatedby thenumeral .22. The

details. of @the "shelvesare best shown in FIGS.,2, 8 and II. A

nuts or extraneous fastening elements. It is interlocked by merely positioning the parts relative to each other and in- .terengaging the locking elements of said parts. Likewise, the

display rack may be readily disassembled merely by disengaging the elements from each other without the use of any tools so that the parts can be packed in a collapsed position in a description of one will suffice. The upright 16 includes a sidewall 34'with a pair of spaced inturned front and rear walls 36 at right angles to the sidewall 34. The front and rear walls 36 are each turned inwardly to form an inclined intermediate flange 37 and is reversely bent to provide a vertex 38 and an end flange 39. The intermediate and end flanges 37 and 39 form a generalIyV-shaped configuration, as best seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, and provide a pocket 40 therebetween for receiving the ends of the peg board I8. The inner end flanges 39 are parallel to each other.

The front and rear walls 36 are each provided with spaced slots or openings 42 on each side thereof along the length or height thereof. Each pair of slots 42 is aligned The vertex 38 is also provided with spaced slots or openings 44. Each pair of slots ,44 are aligned. The slots42 in the front and rear walls 36 serve to permit attachment thereto of the shelves 22, as will be subsequently described. The slots 44 in the vertex serve to permit attachment of the tie bar or cross brace bar 20.

In setting up the stand, the uprights 16 are first positioned in space relation in an upright position and the brace bar 20. like that shown in FIG. 9, is attached thereto. The brace bar 20 consists of a pair. of spaced wire members 46 in parallel relationwith the ends of each wire member turned outwardly at right angles to the axis of the wire member toform a hook 48,

. 49 brazed thereto. The hooks 48 extending in opposite -directionsat the ends of the brace bar are fitted into the slots or openings 44 in the vertex 38of the upright 16, as best shown in FIG. 10, to thereby lock the transverse brace bar 20 'to the uprights 16. One of suchbracebars 20 is positioned approximately midway of the height of the uprights, as best shown in FIG. 2, tofrrmly supportthe uprig'htsin spaced rela-' -tion. More of such:brace bars spaced at different elevations maybe used if desired.

Thepegboard 18 which forms the rear wall of the display ,rack is positioned, as bestseen in FIG. v10, in the pocket 40 nest there against, with the back side of the peg board resting against the flanges 39. A peg board may be positioned on the front side ad the back side of the uprights, as shown in FIG. 10, if it is desired to have display racks with shelves extending forwardly and rearwardly, or back to back. Thus, while FIG. 1 shows the shelves extending forwardly of the peg board, a similar arrangement may extend from the opposite or back side of the display rack so that the same two uprights 16 can support a peg board and shelves forwardly, as shown in FIG. 1, and with a peg board and shelves also extending outwardly or backwardly of the rack shown. To accomplish this back to back arrangement, a peg board 18a, similar to peg board 18, is supported in the rear pockets 40 of the uprights and the shelves are mounted to be attached to the slots 42 in the rear wall 36 to extend rearwardly of the rear wall 36, in the same manner that they are mounted to the front wall 36 and extend forwardly thereof. The front and rear walls 36 have identical slots 42 therein.

The bottom of the peg board 18 rests in the peg board support 26, best shown in FIG. 12. The peg board support 26 includes a channel-shaped member having a bottom wall 52, a vertically extending front wall 53. and an angularly inclined rear wall 54 which terminates in a horizontal flange 55. Welded to each of the opposite ends of the front wall 53 are L- shaped members 56 having their sides 57 spaced from the ends of the channel-shaped member. The peg board support 26 is secured to said uprights 16 between a pair of spaced uprights in close proximity to the bottom of the uprights, with the sides 57 entering and engaging the oppositely positioned two slots 42 in the front wall 36 of the uprights. This locks the bottom support 26 to the uprights and positions the channel of the support in alignment with the pockets 40 of the uprights to receive the bottom portion of the peg board. The bottom support 26 engages the side members 30 which locks the side members 30 from rising.

The base of the unit includes a pair of spaced side members 30 which interlock with the slots 42 in the front walls 36 of the uprights. The top and bottom of the side members 30, best shown in FIGS. 2 and 13, have inwardly turned horizontal flanges 58 with an upwardly vertically extending flange 59. The side members have an inwardly turned front flange 60. The front flange 60 is positioned at an inclined angle and is provided with a plurality of spaced slots 62. each communicating with an opening 63. The rear of the bottom side members 30 are each provided with a plurality of spaced inverted L- shaped hook members, not shown, which are generally similar to the hook members I06 shown, in FIG. 14. The hook members extending rearwardly of the bottom side members 30 are interlocked with the spaced slotted openings 42 in the lower portion of the front wall of the uprights 16. A kick plate 32 (FIGS. 2 and 13) having a front wall 65 has a plurality of spaced lugs or ears 66 extending rearwardly therefrom at right angles to the front wall 65. The cars 66 have detents 67 formed therein.

The ears 66 are inserted in the slots 62 with the detents 67 pasing through the openings 63 in the slots 62. The detents will then lock the kick plate 32 to the side members 30 as the kick plate lowers slightly relative to the side members 30, with the detents then engaging the front flanges 60. The kick plate 32 is thus interlocked to the two opposite side members 30. The kick plate has inwardly turned top and bottom flanges 60 which terminate short of the cars 66. The base shelf 28 is adapted to fit on the two spaced side members 30 and on the front kick plate 32. The interlocking arrangement of the kick plate 32 and side members 30 allows the parts to ride up and down and to compensate for any irregularities in the floor surface on which the stand rests.

The base shelf 28 is provided with spaced downwardly extending sidewalls 68 which engage the side members 30 to prevent accidental removal from the side members. The front wall 69 of the base shelf is curved and shaped similarly to that which will be described in connection with the remaining shelves, shown in detail in FIG. 8, for the purpose of serving to retain the price tag or other designation or identification media which might be inserted in the front trackway.

Extending across the top of the uprights l6 and positioned over the top of the peg board is the panel cap 24 which is shown in detail in FIGS. 5, 6 and 6A. The panel cap 24 comprises a top wall 70 with downwardly extending front and rear flanges 72 of reduced length to provide a recessed area 73 between the outer edge of the top wall 70 and the flange 72. Suitably secured to the underside of the top wall, adjacent each of the opposite ends, is an inverted L-shaped clip or catch member generally designated at 74, which is secured to the top wall 70 by rivets 76 or it may be welded thereto. The downwardly extending leg 77 of said clip terminates in an upwardly and inwardly angularly inclined lip 78.

The catch member 74 has an opening 80 which has threaded engagement with a threaded bolt 82 extending through an opening 83 in the top wall 70 of the panel cap. The lip 78 of the catch member is adapted to engage the two opposite uppermost slots 44 in the vertex 38 of the uprights 16 to lock the panel cap 24 to the uprights, as shown in FIG. 6A. The panel cap 24 is positioned on the top of the uprights 16 so that the panel cap covers the uppermost portion of the uprights 16. When the spring catch 77 engages the top of slot 44, as shown in FIG. 6A, the entire display is locked together. The threaded bolt 82 when properly rotated will cause the horizontal outer portion of the catch member 74 to move in relation to the top wall 70. This provides an adjustment for variations in the size of the peg board and also provides a tightly connected display unit.

The shelves 22 are spacedly secured to the uprights l6 and each of said shelves is formed to provide a top wall 85, a pair of spaced sidewalls 86 (FIG. 11), with the rear of each of the sidewalls stamped or formed to provide a plurality of rearwardly extending hook members 87, best shown in FIG. 11. The uppermost hook member 87 is of an inverted L-shaped and has a single slot 87'; the intermediate hook member 88 is provided with a pair of spaced slots 89 and 90, and the lowermost hook member 91 is likewise provided with a pair of spaced slots 92 and 93. The slots 89 and 92 in the intermediate and lower hook members are in vertical alignment with the slot 87 in the uppermost hook member 87, whereas the slots and 93 in the intermediate and the bottom hook members are positioned at an angle with respect to the uppermost slot 87 but are alignment therewith at an angular plane.

If it is desired to mount the shelf 22 so that the shelf extends in a horizontal plane then the hook members are attached to the slots 42 in the front wall 36 of the uprights 16, with the slots 8789 and 92 of the hook members in engagement with the slots 42 of the uprights. However if it is desired to mount the shelf at an acute angle with respect to the vertical plane of the peg board then the slots 87', 90 and 93 of the hook members are utilized and are in engagement with the slots 42 in the uprights l6 and this will tilt the shelf upwardly at an acute angle.

The front of each of the shelves 22 and the base shelf 28 is shaped as best shown in FIG. 8, namely, the horizontal wall 85 of the shelf at the front is bent vertically upward as at 94 and then horizontally forward as at 95, then reversely rearward to from a curved channel or pocket 96, then downwardly to form a generally concave-shaped wall 97 which bows rearwardly to form a channel or pocket 98, then continues downwardly and is reversely bent on itself to form a bottom channel or pocket 99. The bottom reversely bent portion terminates in a lip above the bottom of the channel or pocket 98. This arrangement provides two trackways along the entire front length of the shelf so that price tags or identification designations of two sizes may be inserted in said trackways and be held therein. For example, a price tag A has its upper and lower ends supported in the pockets 96 and 99. A shorter price tag B has its upper end supported in the pocket 96 and its lower end in engagement with pocket 98 and secured by the lip 100.

The foregoing structure comprises the preferred embodiment of the invention and is evident, the entire rack may be readily'assembled or disassembled without the use of any tools, bolts, nuts, or extraneous fastening elements.

, no. 14 EMBODlMENT H6. 14 shows'amodified shelf construction. The shelf comprises a wooden shelf member I02 supported on a pair of spaced arms or brackets 104 formed of metal or the like. The brackets or arms are each provided with rearwardly extending interlocking hooks 106 which are adapted to engage the front slots 42 in the uprights 16. The upper portion of the brackets or arms are provided with a plurality of upwardly extending pointed projections 108 which engage the underside of the wooden shelf 102. Adjacent the front end of the arm is a recessed portion 110 and extending upwardly thereof is a threaded shank 112 which extends partially through a suitable opening 114 in the wooden shelf. A nut 116 is secured to the threaded shank 112 and is positioned in the recess to engage the underside of the shelf. Adjustment of the nut will level the shelf with respect to the bracket arm.

It will be understood that various changes and modifications may be made from the foregoing without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

lclaim:

1. A display rack comprising, a pair of spaced uprights, each of said uprights formed of a sidewall and an inwardly extending front wall which terminates in an inwardly extending vertical generally V-shaped flange, each V-shaped flange forming a pocket for receiving the opposite ends of a boardvertically positioned between the uprights to form the wall of the rack, said front walls having slots along the length thereof, a plurality of shelves, each of said shelves having rearwardly extending hook members which interengage with said slots in the front walls of the uprights to detachably secure said shelves to said uprights, each said V-shaped flange having a slot, a panel cap having a latching member secured to the slots in said V- shaped flanges to secure the cap to the uprights.

2. A structure as defined in claim 1 in which slots are provided in the vertex of the V-shaped flanges and a bracing bar :base shelf which is positioned in engagement with the side members and the kick plate.

4. A structure as defined in claim 3 in which the kick plate has ears having detents, which ears pass through slots in the side members to lock therewith.

5. A structure as defined in claim 1 in which the front of the shelves has means for supporting tags of different heights.

6. A structure as defined in claim 1 in which the shelf members are each provided with a plurality of rearwardly extending hooks to permit attachment of said shelves to the slots in the front wall of the upright so that the shelves may be supported in a horizontal position or at an acute angle with respect to said rear wall.

7.-A structure as defined in claim 1 in which the uprights are provided with front and rear walls each terminating in generally V-shaped flanges forming pockets for receiving a board between the front pair of flanges and a board between ing on said brackets, and adjustable means on said brackets engaging said horizontal member to raise and lower the front of said horizontal member.

9. A structure as defined in claim 8 in which the brackets have a projection engaging the horizontal member rearwardly of the adjusting means.

10. A structure as defined in claim 4 in which the kick plate is free to slide up and down to compensate for any irregularities in a floor surface on which the display rack rests.

11. A structure as defined in claim 4 in which the kick plate and the adjacent side members while interlocked are free to ride up or down to compensate for any irregularities in a floor surface on which the display rack rests.

12. A structure as defined in claim 1 in which the board is a peg board.

13. A structure as defined in claim 7 in which the board is a peg board. 

1. A display rack comprising, a pair of spaced uprights, each of said uprights formed of a sidewall and an inwardly extending front wall which terminates in an inwardly extending vertical generally V-shaped flange, each V-shaped flange forming a pocket for receiving the opposite ends of a board vertically positioned between the uprights to form the wall of the rack, said front walls having slots along the length thereof, a plurality of shelves, each of said shelves having rearwardly extending hook members which interengage with said slots in the front walls of the uprights to detachably secure said shelves to said uprights, each said V-shaped flange having a slot, a panel cap having a latching member secured to the slots in said V-shaped flanges to secure the cap to the uprights.
 2. A structure as defined in claim 1 in which slots are provided in the vertex of the V-shaped flanges and a bracing bar having hooked ends is adapted to extend betweEn the uprights and interlock with the slots in the vertexes of the flange for the purposes of holding said uprights in a fixed relation relative to each other.
 3. A structure as defined in claim 1 which includes a base unit comprising a pair of side members detachably secure to the slots in the front wall of the upright members, a kick plate detachably secured to the front of the side members, and a base shelf which is positioned in engagement with the side members and the kick plate.
 4. A structure as defined in claim 3 in which the kick plate has ears having detents, which ears pass through slots in the side members to lock therewith.
 5. A structure as defined in claim 1 in which the front of the shelves has means for supporting tags of different heights.
 6. A structure as defined in claim 1 in which the shelf members are each provided with a plurality of rearwardly extending hooks to permit attachment of said shelves to the slots in the front wall of the upright so that the shelves may be supported in a horizontal position or at an acute angle with respect to said rear wall.
 7. A structure as defined in claim 1 in which the uprights are provided with front and rear walls each terminating in generally V-shaped flanges forming pockets for receiving a board between the front pair of flanges and a board between the rear flanges and with spaced slots in the front and rear walls of said uprights so that shelves may be detachably connected thereto, with the shelves extending forwardly and rearwardly of the uprights in a back to back relationship.
 8. A structure as defined in claim 1 in which the shelves include side brackets having the rearwardly extending hook members which interengage with the slots in the front walls of the uprights, said shelves including a horizontal member resting on said brackets, and adjustable means on said brackets engaging said horizontal member to raise and lower the front of said horizontal member.
 9. A structure as defined in claim 8 in which the brackets have a projection engaging the horizontal member rearwardly of the adjusting means.
 10. A structure as defined in claim 4 in which the kick plate is free to slide up and down to compensate for any irregularities in a floor surface on which the display rack rests.
 11. A structure as defined in claim 4 in which the kick plate and the adjacent side members while interlocked are free to ride up or down to compensate for any irregularities in a floor surface on which the display rack rests.
 12. A structure as defined in claim 1 in which the board is a peg board.
 13. A structure as defined in claim 7 in which the board is a peg board. 